A popular misconception about psychotherapy is that it’s all about the past. This probably stems from the clichéd image of the bearded Freudian psychoanalyst quietly dozing in his leather chair – not to mention the circus parade of insipid “self-help” … Continue reading
The new year can bring new ideas and new relationships. And first impressions can often determine if those relationships will last. Michelle T. Sterling, founder of Global Image Group and an expert on “image, impression and impact”, says, “The first … Continue reading
In spite of the best of intentions, pretty much everyone will admit that most new year’s resolutions fail. Why? Because they’re artificial. You can’t resolve to do something just because it happens to be January 1 – or any date, … Continue reading
With the proliferation of TV shows centered around the paranormal, even skeptics might wonder if belief in the supernatural serves any purpose. Clay Routledge, Ph.D., a researcher on the subject and author of “More Than Mortal” thinks it’s about meaning … Continue reading
In my clinical experience over the years I’ve seen many human relationships that are not everything they could be. Marriages routinely end in chronic dissatisfaction and eventually divorce. More and more I see people treating one another poorly. I suspect … Continue reading
In the comic strip “Peanuts,” Lucy van Pelt referred to this time of year as “post-Christmas letdown,” when you mourn for the gifts you wanted but didn’t get. It’s also during this season when I get questions from parents asking … Continue reading
Champagne and too many of those little round quichey things can result in some pretty outlandish new year’s resolutions. It’s tricky to say what you mean and mean what you say when you’re balancing a lampshade on your head. But … Continue reading
The timeless words, “I’ll be home for Christmas” can sometimes set the stage for tension, particularly among family and couples. The seasonal pressure to make everything (and everybody) instantly cheerful and merry can be stressful. Couples fight for a variety … Continue reading
The Christmas season can sometimes generate the perfect storm when relationships mix with the spending of money. Lingering financial issues often become a source of, shall we say … discussion … when debating what to spend on Aunt Myrna’s Christmas … Continue reading
Though it sounds sort of magical and mysterious, the power of suggestion can often be a part of everyday life. For example, let’s say you mistakenly drink a caffeinated beverage close to bedtime, but don’t realize it until the next … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd, My sister is a Catholic. Several years ago she married a wonderful man who happens to be Jewish. They have been very happy — up until now. She is pregnant, and they’ve started to argue vehemently over … Continue reading
A reader emails that her father always cautioned her that “the grass is always greener”, i.e., that she should keep searching for something better than what she already has. She asks me if an endless quest for that “something better” … Continue reading